These media and commerce headlines don’t even mention the ever-present
M&A action in the technology space, which spurs constant innovation in measurement and data for these major businesses. Let’s also not forget recent news
showing that leading digital companies Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Facebook,
and Netflix have positioned themselves among the top TV marketers in the world.

Yes, the convergence of media, technology, and commerce continues daily.
The team at Response took note of this movement in recent years. Performance-based marketers and those consumers with increasing control over the marketing messages they see and respond to pushed us to begin reporting more clearly
on these changes — and to center our education at last April’s Response Expo
around the “consumer journey.”

Though we believe our direction has been clear for some time — take a look at
recent cover stories on Charlie Cole, Tumi’s chief digital officer, or Jean Vernor,
senior vice president of MetLife’s direct-to-consumer organization (neither with
the word “marketing” in their titles, but both consummate marketers) — it’s become obvious to us that we needed to make that story more clear to you.

This final issue of Response’s 25th anniversary celebration, then, marks a perfect time to share with you some of our coming plans. Beginning next month,
Response’s new tagline will read: The Magazine for Media, Technology & Commerce.
Similarly, the DRMA — our business and networking alliance — will be tagged
The Alliance for Media, Technology & Commerce.

Perhaps most importantly, we have rebranded our annual event. You won’t bevisiting the 12th Response Expo next spring in San Diego. You’ll be attending thefirst MTC Expo — the event for media, technology, and commerce professionalsWe’re already hard at work planning and preparing for theevent ( www.mtcshow.com), visiting with long-time exhibitorsand sponsors of Response Expo, as well as those who’ve investedheavily in tech and commerce events like e Tail, Shoptalk, IRCE,and more. Come next April, the goal is to connect all of thosegroups across our new three-day event.

But it starts — as always — in these pages. Take note of the
shift in look and feel next month — but also take note of how
the shift in editorial content is nearly imperceptible given where
we’ve taken our readers during the past 18-to- 24 months.

We look forward to standing at the intersection of media, technology, and commerce with you — and taking part in the success
we believe is waiting for the best companies in each business.